Flexible joint for power shafts



2 sheets-sheet 1' J. W. B. PEARCE FLEXIBLE JOINT FOR POWER SHAFTS Filed NOV. 15, 1934 -llll Jan. 12, 1937.

INVENTOR. JOHN WB. PeARcz,

ATTORNEYJ` Jan. 12, 1937. J. w. B. PEARCE 2,067,285

FLEXIBLE JOINT FOR POWER SHAFTS Filed NOV'. l5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9b 99 99 9b 97 91 v INVENTOR. JOHN W. BFPEAJML Byjm #www f/m.

A TTOR N E Y.5

Patented Jan. 12, 1937,l

iJNrrEo STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,067,285 s FLEXIBLE JoINTroR POWER sHAFTs .lohn W. B. Pearce, Toledo, Ohio Application November 15, 1934, Serial No. 753,171

9 Claims.

This invention relates to Liiexible joints, and

' ted between the joint-members by the rubber and for diametrically confining the joint members to limit lateral misalignment of the shafts.

- Another object of this invention is to provide' a flexibley joint, for torque transmitting shafts, having rubber arranged to connect the joint members so asto permit limited relative movement therebetween for cushioning and absorbing shocks and vibrations in the torque, and wherein cooperating bearing parts associated with the joint members conne the relative movement thereof to a given path.

A further object of this invention is to provide a exiblejoint, of the type referred to, having cooperating joint members one of which is a ringv part provided with an annular recess and a bearing grooveand the other of which has a disk or flange part extending into said recess, and wherein rubber arranged in said recess connects the nange and ring parts and bearing means onthe flange part is operable in said groove for conning to va' given path the relative rotary movement permitted between the flange and ring parts by the rubber.

`Itis also an object of this invention to provide a flexible joint, of the type referred to, wherein one of the joint members is a universal joint structure which is connected to the flange part, such that the universal joint center is always the universal joint structure and confining bear- .'1 Fig- 2 is a'- longitudinal sectional view thereof` ing means for the joint members is arranged outwardly of the rubber.

Other-objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, lwhen 'taken in conjunction with the accompany- -li'igsheetsof drawings, wherein ig, l-.is an end View ofa iiexible joint constructed'accordng to my invention.

(CLM-27) Fig. 3 is an end view of another flexible joint embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5,' 6 and 7 are partial sectional views taken similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating other constructions for my improved-flexible joint.

Fig. 8 is a partial end view of the joint of Fig. 7 and illustrating a detail of construction.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through another flexible joint embodying my invention.

Fig. l is`an end view thereof, but with one of the yokes and the cross of the universal joint omitted.

Fig. l1 is a sectional view taken on line Il-II of Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 is a partial elevational view taken in the direction indicated by line |2442 of Fig. 10. In the accompanying drawings to which detailed reference will now be made, I have shown several forms of my improved flexible joint for power shafts. It will be understood, of course,

that the joints shown in the drawings are by way of illustration, and that the invention may be embodied in various other forms of 'joints and couplings.

In general, the present invention provides for a flexible joint having rubber arranged therein so that the force being transmitted by the joint is transmitted from one joint member to the other through the rubber and vibrations and shocks in the flow of power are cushioned and absorbed by a flexing of the rubber. This improved exible joint also embodies means for diametrically confining the joint members to prevent lateral.misalignment of the shafts, and means for conning to a given path the limited relative rotary movement which is permitted between the joint members by the flexing of the rubber so as to avoid a w'obbling or gyratory movement of the joint.

11n Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown these 4and other novel features embodied in a ilexible joint of relatively simple construction,

Y and which may be used for the transmission of torque for any desired purpose. As shown in Fig. 2, this joint includes'joint members l5 and i6 which are connected, respectively, to the acljacent ends of-substantially aligned shafts l1 and i8, and an intermediate ring member I9 which cooperates with the joint members in such a way as to provide the desired flexible torque transmitting connection therebetween.

, The joint members I and I6 may be of dierent forms of construction, and in this instance these members are in the form of companion flanges having `hub portions 20 and 2| keyed to the shaft ends and substantially radially extending flange 'parts 22 and 23 which cooperate with the ring member in a manner presently to be explained.

The intermediate ring member I9 may.be of different forms of construction, depending uponl the character of service which the joint is to render and upon the details of construction of the particular joint members with which this part is used. In this instance the intermediate ring member is constructed with a tubular outer metal shell or casing and with a pair of flange part 22 and the ring member I9.

flanges 26 and 21 extending radially inwardly from the shellA at spaced points so as to provide therebetween 'an annular recess 28, into which the flange part 22 of the joint member I5 extends. 'I'he tubular shell 25 of the ring member may be shrunk onto the end flanges 26 and 21, and, if desired, a further connection may be provided between these parts in the form of spaced welds 29.

To establish the desired flexible connection between the joint members, I provide rubber in the recess 28 of the ring member I9 arranged so that the power transmitted froml one joint member to the other will be transmitted through the rubber, and so that shocks or vibrations in the power flow will be cushioned and absorbed by a flexing of the rubber. This rubber may be arranged in various ways, but preferably is in the form of rings or segments 3l and 32 which are disposed in the recess 2B on opposite sides of the flange part 22'. The rubber rings are connected to the flanges 26 and 210i the ring member and to the flange part 22, and the rubber provides the only power transmitting connection between the flange part and the ring member.

The connection between the rubber and the .surfaces of the metal flanges may be established `in various ways, for example, by bonding the lrubber with the metal such as by curing the rubber in contact with the metal surfaces. This connection m-ay also be established as a frictilonal lconnection formed by compressing the rubber extended through the flange 21 of the ring member before the rubber rings are arranged in the recess 28.

It will be seen from the arrangement thus far described that-the rubber in the annular recess 28 provides the only power transmitting connection between the joint members I5 and I6, and

that when torque is transmitted through the shafts a flexing of the rubber will allow a limited relative movement to take place between the This flexing of the rubber cushions and absorbs shocks and vibrations in the torque, so that a smooth and even flow of power may be transmitted through the shafts.

As an important feature of my invention, I provide means for diametrically confining the joint members to .prevent lateral misalignment of the shafts; and also means for conning, to a the rings 51.

ment which is permitted between the joint members by the rubber, to thereby prevent a gyratory or wobbling movement of the joint as the shafts are rotated. In the flexible joint of Figs. 1 and 2, I show this limiting or confining means as comprising cooperating bearing parts associated with the respective joint members.

The first of these confining bearings is formed by the peripheral surface or edge of the flange part 22 and the inner cylindrical surface 36 of the shell 25. The annular edge'35 of the flan-ge part 22 is constructed of a diameter such that the flange part will have only working clearance withinv the bearing surface 36. This cooperation between the flange part and the shell 25 results in these parts, as well as Ithe shafts I1 and I8, being diametrically confined and thus maintained in a centered or ysubstantially coaxial relation.

The second of the confining bearings is formed by 'the side faces 31 and 38V of the flange part cooperating,respectively, with bearing members, preferably rings, 31 and 38 which are disposed in the4 intermediate ring member I9 adjacent the shell 25 thereof. This second confining bearing permits relative .rotation between the ring member I9 and the flange part 22 but prevents angular deflection'l of the flange part relative to the ring member which would result in an undesirable wobbling or gyratory movement of the joint parts during rotation. It will be seen from this'bearing arrangement that the only stress to which the rubber is subjected is a shearing stress.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings I have shown my invention embodied in another flexible joint which, in construction and principle of operation,

is generally similar to the flexible joint just described. In the joint of Fig. 4, however, the flange or disk part 40 which extends into the annular recess 4I of the intermediate ring member 42 for cooperation with the rubber rings or segments 43 and 44,- is in the form of a separate part, and a joint member 45, preferably inthe form of a yoke of a universal joint, is connected to this flange part by means of bolts 46. Theannular recess 4I of the intermediate ring ymember is formed between end flanges 41 and 48 which are retained in the outer tubular shell 49 'by a shrink flt and by welds 50.A The end flange 41 may be provided with inwardly extending lugs 5I-which are connected to a flanged hub 52 by means of bolts 53, so that-the intermediate ring member 42 will be connected to and carried by the shaft 54 upon which the hub 52 is keyed.

' In th-e annular recess of the ring member 42, outwardly of the rubber rings 43 and 44, I provide a bearing groove 55 into which a bearing part v 56, carried by theV outer edge ofthe flange 40, operates. The bearing groove 55 may be formed in various ways, and in the` arrangement of Fig. 4 is provided between a pair of metal rings 51, which are disposed in the recess adjacent the end flanges 41 and 48. The bearing part 56 is prefer- -ably in the form of a metal ring ora series of segments secured to the outer periphery of the flange part 40 and constructed of a size and shape to slidably operate in the groove formed, between This bearing part may be formed from a body of suitable bearing material, such as brass or other relatively soft metal cast or otherwise secured upon the periphery 'of the vange 7part. When the bearing metal is cast upon the flange part, it is usually desirable to provide the periphery of the latter with irregularities such as the grooves 58 shown in Fig. 4, to increase the strength of the connection between the flange part and the cast metal.

' In the joint arrangement just described it will b e seen that the rubber rings 43 and 44, which are connected to the flanges either by friction or bonding, provide the only torque transmitting connection between the joint members, and during the transmission of torque objectionable vibrations or shocks will be cushioned and absorbed by the rubber.` The flexing of the rubber will permit a. limited relative rotary movement between the flange part 40 and the ring member 42,

vend flange of the intermediate ring member.

and thisl relative movement will be confined-to Aa/ given path by the cooperatingY groove and bearingv part's 55 and 56 so that a wobbling or gyratory movement of thev joint will be prevented. The

confining bearing also prevents diametrical relative movement between the flange part and the intermediate ring member.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have shown a flexible joint which is very much'like the flexible joint shown in Fig. 4, except that the flange part is an integral part of the joint member 6|, and the joint member` 62 which is in the form of a yoke is connected directly to the end flange A63 of the intermediate ring member'64 by means of bolts 65. y

The flexible joint of Fig. 6 is also very much like the flexible joint of Fig. 4, above'described, and differs from the latter only in that the end flange 66 of the intermediate ring member 61 is an integral part of the joint member 68.

The flexible joint illustrated in Fig. '1 is also similar to the flexible joint of Fig. 4, differing from the latter principally in the arrangement of the parts constituting the confining bearing. In this flexible joint'of Fig. 7 the tubular shell 10 of the intermediate ring member 1| is carried directly upon'the flange 12 of the joint member 13, so that the flange of the joint member forms an A flange 14 is secured in the tubular shell in spaced relation to the flange 12 to provide the annular recess 15which contains the rubber rings 16 and into which the flange part 11 extends for cooperation with the rubber rings. ring member is constructed with a shoulder 18 thereon, which forms one edge of the bearing groove 19 linto which the outer edge of the flange part 11 extends. The other side wall of the bearing groove is formed by a ring which is dis'- posed in-the tubular shell 13 just inwardly of the end flange 14. Segments 8|, of suitable bearing material, may be secured to the outer periphery of the flange part 11 by means of screws 82, and slidably operate in'the bearing groove. In addition to the screws 82 the segments of bearing ma member 85 is securedto the flange 86 of a joint member 81 by means of a series of bolts 88. The joint member 81 may have a hub portion 89, by

means of which it is mounted upon and secured to a power shaft 90. The intermediate ring mem- -ber 85 is of a construction similar to. that al'- The sh-ell 10 of the nular recess 94 into which the ange or disk part 95 extends; Rings or segments of rubber 96 'are provided in the recess on opposite sides of the disk part 95, and are connected to the disk part and to the end flanges 92 and 93 either by bonding or by frictional engagement, so that the rubber nection between the ring' member and the disk part 95.

The outer edge of the disk part 95 is provided with an annular bearing part 91, which may be formed of suitable bearing material, and which slidably operates in a groove 98 provided between metal rings 99. These rings are retained in the shell 9| just inwardly of the end flanges 92 and 93. The cooperating groove and bearing parts 91 and. 98 confine the relative rotary movement, which is permitted between the disk part, 95 and the intermediate ring member by the flexing of the rubber, to a given' path, as explained above, and also diametrically confine the disk part 95 in the intermediate ring member 85.

As already mentioned, one of the joint members of this flexible joint is a universal joint structure, and this universal joint may be of different forms of construction. In Fig. 9 I have shown a universal joint |00 of the cross type as comprising the joint member which is connected to the disk part 95. The cross |0| of this universal joint structure is disposed in a corresponde ingly shaped opening |02 of the diskpart, and

`one pair of trunnions |03 of the cross are connected to the disk part by a suitable yoke |04.l

` ond yoke |06 to which a power shaft |01 may be connected.

It will be noted, with respect to the construction and mounting of the universal joint |00, that the ltrunnions |03 of the cross are disposed with their axes lying substantially in the central plane oi the disk part.95. The arrangement of the axes of' one pair of trunnions in this location, as well as the provision of the bearing formed by/ the cooperating segments and groove 91 and 98, retain the joint members in centered relation so that a wobbling or gyratory movement of the intermediate ring member 85 will be prevented as the ljoint rotates.

In the arrangement just described it will be seen that the center of the universal joint structure is always in the central plane of the flexible' joint so that there will be little or no tendency toward angular defiectionof the disk part relative to the intermediate ring member.

the universal joint and the confining bearings outwardly of the rubber, which provides a very compact and efiicient construction.

If desired, the flexible joint of Fig. 9 may be provided with means for preventing the lubricant, which is supplied to the trunnions of the cross, from coming in contact with the rubber rings 96. Such preventing means may be in the form of a sheet metal guard |08 of suitable shape. This guard may be secured in place by having its outer edge clamped between the flange 86 and the end flange 92 of the ring member. The guard is provided centrally thereof with an opening of suitable size, through which a lubricant overflow fitting |09 of the cross extends. When lubricant is introduced into the reservoir ||0 of the cross rings providea flexible'torque transmitting con- This arrangement also locates the rubber outwardly of' under pressure, any excess lubricant which is forced out through the fitting |99 will b e deected away from the rubber ring 96 by the guard |08. The lubricant thus deected by the guard may drain out of the iiexible joint or be thrown therefrom by centrifugal force through a suitable opening Ill. By the means just described, or the equivalent thereof, it will be seen that the destructive action of lubricant on the rubber rings 96 will thus be prevented.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it should now be readily understood that I have provided an improved .flexible joint wherein objectionable vibrations and shocks are cushioned and absorbed by rubber incorporated in the joint and the limited relative movement permitted between the joint members by the rubber, is confined to a given path so that a wobbling or gyratory movement will be prevented. By 4use of the iiexible joint which I have devised it will be'seen thatpower transmitting shafts or other members may be connected to transmit a. relatively smooth and even flow of power.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. In a rotary shaft joint, the combination of a pair of joint members one having an annular part provided with a recess at the inside thereof and the other having a ange extending outf wardly into-said recess, and a body of rubber in said recess having connection with said annular part and said ange for a transfer of torque therebetween with limited relativey movement, said annular part also having a groove therein in which a portion of said ange operates to conne said relative movement to a given path.

2. In a rotary shaft, the combination of :a pair of substantially axially aligned joint members one having an annular part provided with a recess at the inside thereof and a groove communicating with the recess and the other member having a ange extending substantially radially outwardly into said recess, bodies of rubber in said recess on opposite sides-of said ange lto and through which torque is transmitted from one joint member to the other with limited relative rotary movement, and a bearing part on said` flange operable lin said groove for conning said relative movement to a plane disposed sublsatantially normal to the axis of the joint memers.

3. In a rotary shaft joint, the-combination of a ring member having an annular recess at the in- -side thereof'and a groove at the bottom of the recess, a flange extending into said recess and having a bearing part slidable in said groove, v4`drive.

members connected respectively with said ring member and said flange, and bodies of rubber under compression/between, and thereby frictionally connected with. said flange and walls of said recess.

4. In combination, a ring member having an annular recess therein and a* groove at the bottom of said recess, a drive member connected with said ring member, a disk extending into said recess, a universal joint structure connected with said disk and having trunnions disposed with their axes lying substantially in the plane of said disk, rubber in said recess on opposite sides of the disk and connecting the latter with said ring member for the transmission of torque with -limited relative movement therebetween, and a and having a cross disposed in said opening with the axes of the trunnions of the cross lying substantially in the plane of the disk, rubber in said recess on opposite sides of said disk and connecting the same with said ring member for the transmission of torque with limited relative movement therebetween, and a bearing part on saidV A disk operable in said groove.

6. In a joint ofthe character described the combination of a j oint member having a ring part connected therewith, 'a flange part 'diametrically confined in said ring part, a universal joint connected with the flange part with its center lying substantially in theplane of the flange part, and rubber disposed outwardly of the universal joint on opposite sides of said flange part and iexibly connecting the flange and ring parts.

'7. In a joint of the character described the combination of a joint member having a ring part connected therewith, a flange part diametrically confined in said ring part.. a universal joint connected with the flange part with its center lying substantially in the,plane of the flange part, rubber disposed outwardly of the universal joint von opposite sides of the flange part and flexibly connecting the flange and ring parts, and bearing means substantially in the plane of the ange part and outwardly of the rubber for confining to a given path the limited movement permitted between the liange and ring parts by the exing of the rubber.

8. In a rotary shaft joint the combination of a pair of substantially coaxially extending shaft members, joint members connected with the respectiveshaft members one having axially spaced walls deningan inwardly opening annular recess and the other having a ange extending outwardly into said recess, bodiesof rubber in said recess between said flange and walls and connected therewith whereby torque may be transmitted from one joint member to the other by subjecting the rubber to shear, said flange having the outer edge portion thereof projecting radially outwardly beyond the bodies of rubber, and means on said one joint member having bearing cooperation with said projecting portionof the iiangefor confining relative rotary movement of the' joint members to a transverseplane extending substantially normal to the axis of rotation.

9. In a rotary shaft joint the combination of a pair of substantially coaxially disposed joint members one having axially spaced walls defining an inwardly opening annular recess and the other having a flange extending outwardly into said recess, bodies of rubber'in said recess between said flange and Walls and connected there` 

